Dante’s Inferno will not be released in the Middle East. EA states, “Electronic Arts has decided not to release Dante’s Inferno in the Middle East after an evaluation process which is based on consumer tastes, preferences, platform mix and other factors.”

The religious area is sensitive to issues dealing with Hell and the afterlife, so this decision isn’t surprising. Dante’s Inferno joins the ranks of banned games, which includes Bayonetta, Darksiders, and God of War 3. God of War 3 was banned for having the word “god” in the title, even though those of that have played the game know that it’s based on Greek/Roman mythology. Well, it’s their decision. They’re probably informed enough to know of the game play.

I have to say the obvious, of course: this will not stop consumers who really want the game from getting it.

[source]

The Classification Operations Board of Australia refused to give Sega’s “Aliens vs. Predator” a rating, effectively banning a release of the game (for now). Sega Australia is looking into other options.  Much like L4D2, the violence is the culprit and main factor in the Board’s decision.

The 360 game will be released February 2010 in the US.

From Gamespot UK:

“The game contains first-person perspective, close-up depictions of human characters being subjected to various types of violence, including explicit decapitation and dismemberment as well as locational damage such as stabbing through the chest, mouth, throat, or eyes,” the board report stated.

“Characters can be stabbed with a Predator’s wrist blade or an Alien’s tail in depictions reminiscent of impalement. The Predator collects ‘trophies’ by explicitly ripping off human heads, their spinal columns dangling from severed necks. Heads can be twisted completely around in order to break a character’s neck. Eyes can be stabbed through or gouged, leaving empty, bloodied eye sockets.

“It is noted that a player is able to combine manoeuvres together in quick succession, which further increases impact; for example, a Predator can stab a character through both eyes with its wrist blade and rip off their head, with spinal column still attached. Extensive post-mortem damage, including decapitation and dismemberment, is also possible.”